Measuring closure for container



Feb. 3, 1959 G. H. NEUGEBAUER 2,

MEASURING CLOSUREFOR CONTAINER Filed Oct. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

GERHART H. NEUGEBAPER ATTORNEY United States Patent MEASURING 'CLOSUREFOR CONTAINER Gerhart H. Neugebauer, Nurnberg, Germany, assignor of one-half to Paul 0..Tobeler, doing business under the name of Trans-Oceanic, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 18, 1955, Serial No. 541,267

14 'Ciaims. (Cl. 222-449) This invention relates to a closure for containers and, more particularly, to a closure for tubes that will extru-de measured amounts of their contained material.

It is especially appropriate for use on tubes which may contain such material as tooth-paste, cosmetic cream, shoe cream, patent medicine, grease, putty, chemicals, food in a paste form, and for viscous fluids in general.

In containers having therein any of the above ma terials, generally a certain desired amount of the material is attempted to be squeezed through the nozzle thereof and, more often than not, either too much or toolittle of the material is obtained. For economy and efliciency, it is desirable to extrude a definite known amount from the container. The. present invention has a measuring means therein which fulfills this need. In addition to extruding an equal amount each time, in some usages, it is preferable on occasions to extrude a multiple thereof.

Material is extruded, according to this invention, by pressing the exterior of the tube or flexible container and thereby activating a piston in a chamber within the closure and by which a predeterminedquantity is forced out of the closure nozzle. Thisamount is equal to the volume of the chamber less the volume of the slidably engaged but unattached piston therein. By means of a rotatable nozzle, the piston, depending upon the rotated position of the nozzle, is moved by the material from the container either in one direction or the other. In addition, a self-closing cap is arranged on the nozzle and the cap is opened by merely applying pressure to the tube or container in the usual way.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide an improved closure for flexible type containers which hold materials having the nature of a pasteor a viscous fluid.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved closure for extruding equal amounts of material from a flexible container.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved closure for a tube or plastic container that will extrude a measured amount of material each time external pressure is applied to the container.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved closure that will extrude a measured amount of a viscous fluid from the container or amultiple of said measured amount from the container.

Anobject of this invention is to. provide a self-closing cap on the closure that is opened for the extrusion of material from the container when external pressure is applied to the container.

Another object of this-invention isv to provide a closure for a flexible container that is removable and reusable on other like containers.

A further object of thisinvention is to provide a closure'for atube or plastic container which extrudes a definite known amount of material from the container and. which; said amount. can be variedby changing the piston within: the measuring: chamber. of the closure;

Other objects of invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational cutaway view of a removable closure for a flexible container showing the measuring chamber and conduits through which the material in'the container is extruded and which. also illustrates a selfclosing. and pressure openingcap on said closure;

Fig. 2 is. a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an elevational cross-sectional viewof another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevational cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of Fig. 6; i

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention and which has. two measuring chambers;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a. cross-sectional view taken along the lines 1tl10of Fig. 8;

Fig. ll is an elevational.cross sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention and which has three measuring chambers;

Fig. 12'is a cross-sectional view taken along. the lines 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional View taken along the lines 13-13 of Fig. 11'.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, closure 1, of general cylindrical configuration, is threadedly or otherwise secured on container 4' and is removable therefrom for use on other like containers In this instance, body 2 of closure 1. is firmly connected to flexible container 4 by ring 15. In body 2 are two substantially vertical channels or conduits 9 and 10 set at about 180 degrees. Conduitor tube 10 is connected with open-ended cylindrical chamber or measuring means 6 in which piston 7 is slidably engaged and which with slight pressure moves from one end' of chamber 6 to the other. Channels 9 and Ill are shut off from container 4 by means of a fitted disc or cover 8. In body 2 is bore hole 16 opening into container 4. Bore hole 16 is. setoif approximately degrees to conduits 9 and 10. In body 2 is rotatable nozzle portion or nozzle 3 which is held in place by clasp cap la. The clearance between the rotatable nozzle portion and body 2 is adjustable by means of spacer ring 22 which is also shown in Figs. 4, 6, 8 and- 11. In nozzle portion 3; slots or conduits 11 and 12 are substantially parallel to each other. Slot 12, with the rotatable nozzle in position I as indicated in Fig. 2, connects channel-10 with bore hole 16; and slot 11, connect.- ing channel 9, is joined by an extension 11a to outlet channel or nozzle duct 5. Rotatable nozzle portion. 3 has a limit stop or nose 17 which is guided on rotation through arc spacing, 13 which limits rotation of portion 3 to 90'degrees from position I to position II;

Nozzle portion 3 has a core or piston 18 in its upper part. Spring 19, held in place by plug 20, exerts force on one side of core 18 forcing it against the smaller di ameter opening of channel 5 and thereby closes off opening 21.

Nozzle channel 5 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to be in position I. In that position, pressure exerted on flexible container 4 forces material from the containen through bore hole 16, over slot 12 into channel 10, and'theninto through the arc of 90 degrees.

chamber 6. In chamber 6 the material, under pressure, moves piston 7 downwards until it strikes the lower end of chamber 6. During this downward motion, piston 7 pushes material in front of it into slot 14 and into channel 9; thence through slot 11 into discharge outlet or nozzle opening 5. By the pressure exerted on the material in channel 5, core 18 is opened against spring pressure 19 and the material is forced out of closure 1 through opening 21.

When piston 7 has reached its lowest position, the pressure on the material beneath it ceases and locking core 18 closes by means of spring 19 upon it. For further operation, nozzle portion 3 is now rotated 90 degrees from position I into position II, as indicated to the operator by nose or limit stop 17. In this position, slot 12 connects bore hole 16 with channel 9 and slots 11 andlla now connect channel 10 with exit channel or conduit 5. In the'same manner, if pressure is exerted upon container 4, material contained therein presses through bore hole 16 over channel 9 and into slot 14 against the lower portion of piston 7, causing it to move upward. The piston pushes the material above it through channel 10, slots 11 and 11a, and thence into outlet channel and after forcing core 18 open, finally out through opening 21.

The quantity of material discharged corresponds to the volume of chamber 6 less the volume of piston 7. This quantity can be changed by varying the size of the piston. When the container is emptied, ring 15 can be unscrewed or snapped off depending upon the holding means and body 2 can then be inserted on a new container.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, which show another embodiment of the present invention, body 42 of closure 41 is secured on container 4 by means of threaded ring 15. Body 42 has two axially directed channels 29 and 30 which each have, above and below, a right angle turn toward the center of said body. The lower ends of channels or conduits 29 and 30 are connected with a measuring chamber 6 in which piston 7 is slidably engaged. As indicated in Fig. 2, a stopping device, not shown, limits the rotation of rotatable nozzle portion 23 to 90 degrees from position I to position II. Nozzle portion 23, which is held on body 42 by clasp-cap 41a, and which is substantially cylindrical except for an expanded flange portion on its lower end, has horizontally directed right angle bore holes, shown as 31 and 32, which are connected to nozzle tube or outlet channel 25. In the same horizontal plane with bore hole 3132 is curved channel 33 whose ends are located so as to be equivalent to a channel similar to 31-32 of right angle configuration. Channel 33 connects two points on the circumference of nozzle portion 23 which are shown to be bore hole or ducts 28 and 29. Bore hole 28 is offset to channels 29 and 30 by 90 degrees and connects container 4 with channel 33.

In operation, the embodiment in Figs. 4 and 5, set at position 1, pressure is applied to container 4 and material enters bore hole 28, passing into channel 33, then channel 29, and pushes piston 7 in chamber 6 from right to left. The material in front of the piston, on the left, 'is forced into channel or conduit 30, then into bore hole 31 of nozzle portion 23, and then out of closure 41 by way of outlet or nozzle opening 25. When piston 7 has stopped on the left, no further material can be forced out. For the next extrusion, the rotatable nozzle portion 23 must be turned from position I to position II, In this position when pressure is applied to container 4, the material is forced into bore hole 28, then curved channel 33, and further into conduit 30 to the left side of the chamber 6, forcing piston 7 to the right. The material in chamber 6 to the right of piston 7 is forced into channel 9, through horizontal boring 3132, and into outlet chamber 25.

As is apparent, when the piston and chamber are unchanged in size, the quantity of extruded material will 4 always be of equal amounts. A closure can be designed so that a piston may be readily removable from the chamber and thus, the amount of extruded material can be easily varied.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, in which a third embodiment of the invention is shown, container 4 is secured to closure 51 by means of ringlS of body 62. Body 62 has two axially directed channels 49 and 50 which at their lower ends turn horizontally toward and join the opposite ends of measuring chamber 6. In chamber 6 is slidable piston 7. Nozzle portion 53 is held on body 62 by clasp-cap 51a. Annular groove 48 in body 62 surrounds rotatable nozzle portion 53 and is open to bore hole 54, through which it is connected to container 4. Nozzle portion '53 has a horizontal bore hole 63 which is connected to outlet or nozzle opening 55. Nozzle portion 53 also has an axially directed slot or duct 61 in its generally cylindrical surface which in position I of the drawing connects with annular groove 48 and with channel or conduit 49. A guide nose or limit stop on the rotatable nozzle portion 53, not shown, permits rotation to only 180 degrees from position I to position II. It should be noted that conduits 49 and 50 are offset 180 degrees and bore hole 54 is set between them at degrees from both. This makes for ease of construction and operation.

In operation, the closure shown in Figs. 6 and 7, pressure is applied to container 4 and the material (in the shown position I) enters bore hole 54, annular ring 48, continuing into duct 61, channel or conduit 49, and into the right side of chamber 6, pushing piston 7 from right to left. channel 50, horizontal opening 63 of nozzle portion 53, and is discharged through outlet opening 55.

For further operation, nozzle portion 53 is rotated from position I to position II, and pressure again ap-' plied to container 4 forces material up through bore hole 54, through annular groove 48, into duct 61 and conduit 50 to the left side of chamber 6. Piston 7 is thus forced to the right, and the material to the right of it is emptied by conduit 49, bore hole 63 and outlet 55.

Referring to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, closure 81 is similar to the preceding ones except, that instead of one measuring chamber, there are two offset at 90 degrees, through which material may be measured and subsequently discharged. There are also 3 positions of operation instead of two as previously indicated. Rotatable nozzle portion 73, held on body 82 by clasp-cap 81a, is shown to be in position I and both chambers 6 and 6a are shown to be connected tooutlet nozzle 75 by conduits 70 and 83, and 70a and 83a, respectively. As above, if pressure is exerted upon flexible container 4, the material therein is forced into bore holes 74 and 74a and into annular groove 78 which is connected to axial slots 71 and 710. From these slots the material is passed into conduits 69 and 69a, respectively, and thence into chambers 6 and 6a, forcing pistons 7 and 7a (7a is not shown) upward; consequently pushing the material above the pistons into conduits 70 and 7 0a, and finally into channel 83 and 83a, respectively, and out of nozzle outlet 75.

If nozzle portion 73 is rotated degrees from position I into position III, channels 70 and 70a and the upper end of chambers 6 and 6a are connected to slots 71 and 71a, respectively, to annular groove 78 and bore holes 74 and 74a which lead to container 4. Pressure exerted on container 4 forces material into chambers 6 and 6a and pistons 7 and 7a are pushed downward. The material in front of said pistons is pushed into channels 69 and 69a, horizontal conduits 83 and 83a, and into outlet channel 75. It should be noted that in the above two operations theamount of material extruded from the closure is equal to twice the volume of the measuring chamber 6 or 6a.

If, nozzle portion 73 is turned only 90 degrees from position I into position II, chamber 6a remains connected Material at the left of piston '7 is forced into with outlet openings 75 over channel 70a and bore hole 83aof the nozzle portion. As piston 7a, not shown, in chamber 6a is already in the upward position from the first operation in position I, the contents thereof cannot be extruded from this chamber by exerted pressure. Chamber 6 at the left is connected over channel 70 with slot 71a, annular groove 78, and boreholes 74 and 74a to container 4. When pressure is exerted upon container 4, the material is forced down from above into chamber 6 and forces piston 7 downward, thereby pushing the material in front of it into channel 69, bore hole 83a and into outlet 75. As chamber 6a is cut off, only material in chamber 6 reaches the outlet. This makes it possible, if it is desired, to extrude material from only one chamber or from two chambers depending upon whether nozzle portion 73 is set at position II or position III. Positions I, II and III are indicated on the exterior of the enclosure for proper operation but are not shown in the drawings, except by the arrows. For convenience, the various channels are set off at definite angles.

Now referring to Figs. 11, 12 and 13, where an embodiment of the invention is shown in which three measuring chambers, set off at 60 degrees, are included and which is, in general, similar to the other embodiments in operation. In operation starting with position I, as indicated in the drawings, chambers 6, 6a and 6b of closure 101 are connected with outlet 95 via channels 90, 90a and 96b, and bore holes 103, 103a and 103b. The lower ends of chambers 6, 6a and 6b are connected to container 4 via channels 89, 89a and 8%, slots 91, 91a

Pressure exerted upon the container allows material to enter chamber 6 over annular groove 98, slot 91b, channel 90 and presses piston 7 downward, causing the contents of chamber 6 below piston 7 to be forced through channels S9, 103b, and then into outlet channel 95. The upper ends of chambers 6a and 6b are connected with channels 96a and 90b, and bore holes 103 and 103a, respectively, and outlet 95, and are thus unable to carry the material as the pistons are on the top thereof.

If nozzle portion 93 is moved 120 degrees from position I to position III, chambers 6 and 6a are in connection with axial slots 91a and 91b, respectively, annular groove 98 and the bore holes to the container. If pressure is applied to the container, chambers 6 and on will be filled and pistons 7 and 7a in the respective chambers will be moved downward causing the material below them be forced through channels 89 and 89a, bore holes 103a and 103b, nozzle tube 95. Chamber 611 is unaffected by this operation and thus the contents of only two chambers are extruded from the container.

If nozzle portion 93 is turned from position I to position IV, 180 degrees, the upper ends of all three chambers are connected to the container over channels 90, 90a and 90b via three axial slots 91, 91a and 91b, respectively, annular groove 98 and the three bore holes 94, 94a and 94b. Pressure exerted upon container 4 thus extrudes the material from all 3 chambers. It is apparent, then, that with the last embodiment of the invention it is possible to extrude the contents of one, two or of all three chambers.

It is noted that in Fig. 8, a self-closing and pressureresponsive opening cap is shown, as is in Fig. 1; whereas in Fig. 11, a conventional cap 96 is indicated.

These closures as shown in the various embodiments of the invention can be made of a plastic material or of to be 1. A measuring and dispensing closure for a container having an outlet opening; said closure comprising a body, means for securing said body to a material container on an outlet opening of said container, a rotatable portion secured in said body and partly extending out from said body, a first conduit in said body for connecting said outlet opening to said rotatable portion, a first duct in said portion, measuring means in said body, a second conduit in said body connecting one end of said measuring means and one end of said first duct, the other end of said first duct adjoining saidfirst conduit, a third conduit in said body extending from the other end of said measuring means to said rotatable portion, a nozzle extending through that part of said portion extending out from said body, said nozzle adapted to discharge material from said container and closure, a second duct in said portion joining said third conduit and said nozzle; said first duct effecting a degree joint between said first and said second conduit, said second duct effecting a 90 degree joint between said third duct and said nozzle, whereby a predetermined 90 degree rotation of said portion in said body efiects a reversal of flow of said material through said measuring means, and means to limit said rotation of said portion to said predetermined rotation.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which said measuring means is comprised of an open-ended cylindrical chamber in said body and an unattached piston slidably engaged in said chamber.

3. A measuring and dispensing closure for a container having an outlet opening; said closure comprising a body adapted to be secured on said outlet opening of said container; a generally cylindrical, rotatable portion centrally secured in said body and partly extending out from'said body; means to limit the rotation of said rotatable portion a predetermined amount, an annular groove in said body surrounding said rotatable portion, pipe means for connecting said body to said outlet of said container and said annular groove, an axially directed duct in the cylindrical surface of said portion, said duct being open to sald groove, measuring means in said body, first conduit means in said body connecting said duct and one end of said measuring means, a nozzle in that part of saldrotatable portion extending from said body adapted to discharge material from said container and said closure, second conduit means in said body connecting the other end of said measuring means and said nozzle; said nozzle bemg adapted to connect said first conduit means and said duct being adapted to connect said second conduit l(jmdsaid limited rotation of said rotatable portion in said l. A device according to claim 3 in which said measuring means is comprised of an open-ended cylindrical chamber in said body and an unattached piston slidably engaged in said chamber.

5 A measuring and dispensing closure for a container having an outlet opening; said closure comprising a body adapted to be secured on said outlet opening of said container, a generally cylindrical nozzle portion centrally secured in said body and partly extending out from sa d body, an annular groove in said body surrounding sa d nozzle portion, pipe means in said body connecting sa d container and said annular groove, at least two axially directed ducts in the cylindrical surface of said portion in said body, at least two measuring means in said body, first conduit means connecting each of said ducts with one end of one of said measuring means,

7 nozzle means in said nozzle portion for the discharge of material from said container and closure, second conduit means connecting the other ends of each of said measuring means with said nozzle means; whereby when pressure is applied within said container, said material may be caused to bemeasured through at least two measuring means and discharged through said nozzle means; and means in said nozzle portion to limit extrusion of said material from said container through only one of said measuring means and to cause reversal of flow through said measuring means.

6. A device according to claim in which each of said measuring means is comprised of an open-ended cylindrical chamber in said body and an unattached piston slidably engaged in said chamber.

7. A measuring and dispensing closure for a container having an outlet opening; said closure comprising a body adapted to be secured on said outlet opening of said container, a generally cylindrical nozzle portion centrally secured in said body and partly extending out from said body; an annular groove in said body surrounding said portion, pipemeans in said body connecting said container, and said annular groove, at least three axially directed ducts in the cylindrical surface of said portion in said body, said-ducts being open to said groove, at least three measuring means in said body, first conduit means in said body connecting each of said ducts with one end of one of said measuring means, nozzle means in said nozzle portion for the discharge of material from said container and closure, second conduit means in said body connecting the other ends of each of said measuring means with said nozzle means; whereby when pressure is applied within said container, said material may be caused to be extruded through at least three measuring meansand discharged through said nozzle means; means insaid nozzle portion to limit extrusion of said material from said container through only one of said measuring means, means in said nozzle portion to limit extrusion of said material from said container through only two of said measuring means, and means in said nozzle portion to cause reversal of flow through said measuring means.

8. A device according to claim 7 in which each of said measuring means is comprised of an open-ended cylindrical chamber in said body and an unattached piston slidably engaged in said chamber.

9. A'measuring and dispensing closure for a material container having an outlet opening, said closure comprising a body adapted to be secured to said outlet opening of said container, a closure discharge portion secured in said body and connected for rotation therein on an axis directed toward said container, first conduit means in said body for connecting said body with said outlet opening and extending into said discharge portion, reversible -flow measuring means adjacent said discharge portion in said body adapted for measuring operation while said closure is secured to said container, said first conduit means extending in said discharge portion so as to connect with one end of said measuring means, a nozzle through said portion to discharge material from said closure and container, second'conduit means in said body extending into said portion and connecting the other end of said measuring means and said nozzle, said portion connected so that on predetermined rotation said conduits are realigned with said measuring means to permit the reversal of flow therethrough.

10. A measuring and dispensing device for a material container having an outlet opening, said device comprising a body adapted to be secured to said outlet opening of said container, said body having an inlet adapted for registry with said outlet of said container, reversible flow measuring means in said body and adapted for measuring operation while said device is secured on said container,

a discharge means secured for rotation in said body adjacent said measuring means and having a discharge passageway therein, means in said discharge means to connect said inlet with one end of said measuring means and to connect the otherend of said measuring means with said discharge passageway at one predetermined position of rotation of said discharge means and to connect the other end of said measuring means with said inlet and to connect said one end of said measuring means with said discharge passageway at a second predetermined position of rotation of said discharge means.

11. A measuring and dispensing device for a material container having an outlet opening, said device comprising a body adapted to be secured to said outlet opening of said container, said body having an inlet adapted for registry with said outlet of said container, one or more measuring means in said body, said measuring means connected for alternate directional flow, a generally cylindrical discharge portion secured for rotation in said body adjacent said measuring means and having a discharge passageway therein, said discharge portion being rotatable about its axis which is directed toward said container,

alternating flow passageway means in said discharge por tion to connect said inlet with one end of said measuring means and to connect the other end of said measuring means with said discharge passageway at one predetermined position of rotation of said discharge portion with respect to said body and to connect the other end of said measuring means with said inlet and to connect said one end of said measuring means with said discharge passageway at a second predetermined position of rotation of said discharge portion with respect to said body, the direction of flow through said measuring means being opposite for said first and second positions, said discharge passageway being connected to said measuring means for one-way flow in said first and second positions.

12. A measuring and dispensing device for a container having an outlet opening, said device comprising a body adapted to be secured on said outlet opening of said container, a generally cylindrical nozzle portion centrally said container and being rotatable about said axis, said nozzle portion having a discharge passageway in the direction of said axis, at least onereversible flow measuring means in said body, said body having an inlet adapted for registry with said outlet of said container, pipe means in said nozzle portion to connect said inlet with one end of said measuring means and to connect the other end of said measuring means with said discharge passageway at one position of rotation of said nozzle portion and to connect the other end of said measuring means with said inlet and to connect said one end of said measuring means with said discharge passageway at a second predetermined position of rotation of said nozzle portion.

13. A measuring and dispensing closure for a container having an outlet opening, said closure comprising a body adapted to be secured on said outlet opening of said container, a discharge portion in said body, at least two measuring means in said body, said body having an inlet adapted for registry with said outlet of said container, pipe means in said body connecting said inlet with one end of each of said measuring means, nozzle means in said discharge portion for the discharge of material from said container and closure, conduit means connecting said nozzle means with at least one of the other ends of one of said measuring means, and means in said discharge portion to allow flow of said material from said container through at least one of said measuring means and to cause reversal of flow through said measuring means.

14. A measuring and dispensing closure for a container having an outlet opening, said closure comprising a body least two measuring means in said body, first conduit means connecting each of said duets with one end of one of said measuring means, nozzle means in said nozzle portion for the discharge of material from said container and closure, second conduit meansconnecting the other ends of each of said measuring means with said nozzle means, and means in said nozzle portion to limit the extrusion of said material from said container through only one of said measuring means and to cause reversal of flow through said measuring means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

